Interim Guidance for Public Health Officials on

Pets of Ebola Virus Disease Contacts

Released November 10, 2014
American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Ebola Companion Animal Response
Plan Working Group:
Casey Barton Behravesh MS, DVM, DrPH, DACVPM, Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (chair); Derron A. Alves, DVM, DACVP, Veterinary Services, Defense Health
Agency; Gary Balsamo, DVM, MPH, National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians
and State Public Health Veterinarian and Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals; Tammy
Beckham, DVM, PhD, Texas A&M University System; Susan Culp, DVM, Texas Animal
Health Commission; Thomas M. Gomez, DVM, MS, US Department of Agriculture/Animal and
Plant Health Inspection Service/Veterinary Services; Holly Hughes-Garza, DVM, Texas Animal
Health Commission; Barbara Knust, DVM, MPH, DACVPM, Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention; John Poe, DVM, MPH, Kentucky Department for Public Health; John P. Sanders,
Jr., DVM, DACVPM, US Department of Homeland Security; Thomas Sidwa, DVM, MPH,
Texas Department of State Health Services; Jessica Spengler, DVM, PhD, MPH, Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention; Shelley Stonecipher, DVM, MPH, DACVPM, Texas
Department of State Health Services; J. Scott Weese, DVM, DVSc, DACVIM, University of
Guelph; Kyoungjin J. Yoon, DVM, MS, PhD, DACVM, Iowa State University.
AVMA Staff: Cheryl L. Eia, JD, DVM, MPH; Sharon Granskog; Kristi Henderson, DVM;
Christine Hoang DVM, MPH, CPH; Kendall Houlihan, DVM; Kimberly A. May, DVM, MS;
Amy Miller.

Disclaimer: This interim guidance document was developed by the AVMA Ebola Companion
Animal Response Plan Working Group which is made up of a variety of experts representing
multiple agencies and organizations. The information and recommendations in this document are
those of the Working Group and do not necessarily represent the official position of the AVMA
or the agencies and organizations with which Working Group members are affiliated. Because
limited scientific data on Ebola virus disease (Ebola) and companion animals are currently
available, this guidance was developed in part by extrapolating scientific information from other
species including humans and non-human primates (e.g., apes and monkeys). This document
contains basic guidelines that should be considered by state animal and human health officials.
Local or state jurisdictions may require additional criteria in a specific situation. Information in
this interim guidance is subject to change, and additional guidance may be released as new
information becomes available.
Contact: Questions regarding animals and Ebola virus or this protocol may be directed to the
CDC Ebola Animal-Human Interface Team (eocevent92@cdc.gov) or by calling the CDC
Emergency Operations Center at 770-488-7100 (24/7).

Purpose
This interim guidance document was developed by the AVMA Ebola Companion Animal
Response Plan Working Group for local and state animal health and public health officials to
facilitate preparation of state response plans. This document provides interim guidance based on
the latest scientific evidence and recommendations from national organizations, for the
management of pets, specifically dogs and cats, owned by Ebola virus disease (Ebola) contacts.

Information on Ebola Virus and Animals

There have been no reports of dogs or cats becoming sick with Ebola virus or of being able to
spread Ebola to people or other animals.
o However, it is important to keep people and animals away from blood or body fluids
of a person with symptoms of Ebola infection.
Certain exotic or unusual pets (such as monkeys, apes, or pigs) have a higher risk of being
infected with and shedding Ebola virus.
There is currently no evidence that Ebola virus can infect non-mammals kept as pets,
including birds, reptiles, amphibians, or fish.
More information on Ebola and animals is available on CDCs website:
http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/transmission/qas-pets.html

Asking All Contacts of Ebola Patients about Interactions with Animals

Public health officials should ask all contacts of Ebola patients about the type and number of pets
in the home, and about other activities that involve contact with animals, including pets and
livestock (i.e., occupations, hobbies, farm or zoo visits, or work with service animals). Collecting
this information early will allow human and animal health officials to plan for management of
the animal if a risk assessment conducted by public health officials determines that animal
quarantine is warranted. (See separate document titled, Interim Guidance for Dog or Cat
Quarantine after Exposure to a Human with Confirmed Ebola Virus Disease).

Monitoring and Movement of Persons with Potential Ebola Virus Exposure

Epidemiologic risk factors should be considered when evaluating a person for Ebola, classifying
contacts, or considering public health actions such as monitoring and movement restrictions
based on exposure. Different recommendations exist for contacts of Ebola patients depending on
whether they are under Active Monitoring or Direct Active Monitoring.
People under Active Monitoring
Active monitoring means that the state or local public health authority assumes responsibility for
establishing regular communication with potentially exposed individuals, including checking
daily to assess for the presence of symptoms and fever, rather than relying solely on individuals
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to self-monitor and report symptoms if they develop. Unless a person under Active Monitoring
becomes symptomatic, they do not need to limit exposure to companion animals. This is
because these individuals were determined to have a low, but not zero risk, based on their
exposure to a person with a confirmed Ebola infection. The pet owner should be informed of the
points provided in the section below titled, Advice for the Owners Who Had Contact with an
Ebola Patient. For more on active monitoring, please visit
http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/exposure/monitoring-and-movement-of-persons-withexposure.html.
People under Direct Active Monitoring
Direct active monitoring means the public health authority conducts active monitoring through
direct observation. The purpose of direct active monitoring is to ensure that if individuals with
epidemiologic risk factors become ill, they are identified as soon as possible after symptom onset
so they can be rapidly isolated and evaluated. People under direct active monitoring should
avoid contact with dogs, cats, livestock (e.g. pigs, cattle, sheep, and goats), and other
mammals out of an abundance of caution to prevent possible transmission of Ebola from
people to animals and also to prevent the need for quarantine of an animal due to contact
with a person with symptomatic Ebola. It is recommended that dogs or cats be cared for by
someone who does not reside in the monitored persons residence until the direct active
monitoring period ends. (See additional recommendations below.) Other types of pets in the
home should be evaluated for risk on a case-by-case basis. For more on direct active monitoring,
please visit http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/exposure/monitoring-and-movement-of-persons-withexposure.html

Considerations about Pet Quarantine

The goal of human and animal health officials is to prevent transmission of Ebola in humans and
animals and also to prevent the need for quarantine of a pet due to contact with a person with
symptomatic Ebola. However, should a person become ill with Ebola, dogs, cats, and possibly
other pets who came into contact with the patient must be assessed for exposure and may be
placed in mandatory quarantine for at least 21 days following their last known exposure to the
person with Ebola. This situation can be avoided if the pet is moved out of the residence of the
person being monitored for Ebola before any symptoms start in the person. A separate document
titled, Interim Guidance for Dog or Cat Quarantine after Exposure to a Human with Confirmed
Ebola Virus Disease, is available which describes the process for conducting a risk assessment
for exposure of dogs or cats that had contact with a human with laboratory-confirmed evidence
of Ebola, and it describes how to implement quarantine of dogs or cats if deemed appropriate by
state and federal human and animal health officials.
Pet quarantine for a minimum of 21 days requires using a large amount of resources, including
caretakers properly trained in personal protective equipment (PPE). Health officials should try to
avoid the need for quarantine by facilitating alternative housing arrangements for pets of Ebola
contacts under Direct Active Monitoring, particularly in the following situations:

there are multiple pets in a household; removing multiple pets from the household would
limit the potential for intraspecies transmission and prevent the quarantine of additional
animals
the pet has special medical needs such as requiring daily injections or medications that can
not be administered indirectly in food/treats (e.g. peanut butter)
the pet is aggressive and may be determined as ineligible for quarantine
the pet has significant medical history that may complicate health monitoring, such as
recurring gastrointestinal upset or history of bleeding disorders
the pet is known to be very fearful of strangers or unfamiliar places, or has pre-existing,
severe separation anxiety

Recommendation to Prevent Mandatory 21 Day Pet Quarantine

The following is a recommendation, not a requirement: It is recommended that pet(s) owned by
an asymptomatic person under direct active monitoring be removed from the human contacts
home. Public health officials should work with the pet owner to determine if someone, preferably
a person who does not reside in the monitored persons residence, can care for the pet until the
direct active monitoring period ends. This will eliminate the risk of a mandatory 21-day
quarantine of the pet and the need to evaluate the pet for exposure if the contact should become
ill. Because the potentially exposed person is not symptomatic and therefore not potentially
shedding Ebola virus, the pet poses no risk to other caretakers or contacts if it is removed from
the household. No restrictions would be required on the pets activities if it were moved to
another household.

If Owner Chooses to Keep Pet at Home during Direct Active Monitoring

If it is not possible to have another person care for the pet outside the home, the owner
should be informed of the points provided in the section below titled, Advice for Pet
Owners Who Had Contact with an Ebola Patient.
If the pet remains in the home, it is essential that the owner appoints a guardian for their
pet(s) in case the owner becomes ill and cannot make decisions. Pet owners should have the
guardians contact information with documentation in writing about accepting the risks and
potential associated costs of animal quarantine, based on requirements set by local
jurisdictions.
If the pet remains in the home, the pet should not be allowed to interact with the person under
direct active monitoring; it is important to minimize interactions between this person and the
pet in order to prevent a mandatory quarantine of the pet.
If the pet is still in the home if and when the contact becomes ill, human and animal health
officials must perform a risk assessment of the pet to determine its risk for exposure to Ebola.
If the person develops symptoms that could be consistent with Ebola infection, the pet cannot
be moved from the home until after a risk assessment for exposure to Ebola has been
performed and public health veterinarians, in collaboration with human and animal health
officials, determine whether or not quarantine is required.
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o See separate document titled, Interim Guidance for Dog or Cat Quarantine after
Exposure to a Human with Confirmed Ebola Virus Disease.

Advice for Pet Owners Who Had Contact with an Ebola Patient

If you become sick with fever or any symptoms including severe headache, fatigue, muscle
pain, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, or bruising or bleeding not known to be linked to an
existing medical diagnosis:
o Immediately contact your local health department or medical treatment facility at first
indication of illness (such as a higher body temperature). Report where your pet(s)
will be safely located in the home.
o Be prepared to provide details to a public health official that includes types of contact
your pet may have had with you while you had symptoms. A public health
veterinarian, in collaboration with public health officials, will determine if your pet is
at risk for exposure to Ebola and how to properly care for the pet.

Pets must not leave the premises for any reason until an exposure assessment
is made by your health officials.
o Stop all direct contact with other people and avoid all interactions with pet(s)
including petting, holding, kissing, snuggling, sharing food, or letting pet lick you.
o Keep people and animals away from your blood or body fluids.
o The pet should be placed in a crate, bathroom, or spare bedroom with food and water
to keep the pet safe.

If possible, another person in your household should handle the pet while
ensuring it is safely separated from you.

If you live alone, you should avoid all direct contact with the pet while
making sure the pet is safely separated from you.

Selected Additional Resources

Interim Guidance for Monitoring and Movement of Persons with Ebola Virus Disease Exposure
Epidemiologic Risk Factors to Consider when Evaluating a Person for Exposure to Ebola Virus
Questions and Answers about Ebola and Pets